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Wednesday, March 31

Monday evening didn't go to plan and I only got as far as stamping out my new images. So last night I had a play at water colouring some whilst watching Holby. I ought to have in mind what papers I'm going to use, but i didn't and just played around with my Inktense pencils.

So that's the main thing in the work box on my bed this Wednesday. Ready to go in my completed storage box (see earlier post, Saturday's I think).

Having a swing around there is evidence of something Small-N-Grubby. A hat decorated last night ready for an end of term competition.

This is a fire engine.

He came out of school in tears as 'someone' had lost 3 of the wheels and one of the axles. I've made 4 replacement wheels and we just need to get a skewer for the axle and put it back together.

Pop over to Julia and have a nosey at what's on all those craft desks!

Monday, March 29

Happy Monday all. Looks like it's going to be a pretty wet and miserable week weather wise, so lots of time for crafting.

Made a little Tilda card last night for a couple of challenges.

Used the Just Magnolia sketch #48 and the colours are Brown, Cream and Pink for Create4Fun challenge #13. The patterned paper is by Magnolia and I've punched it with an X-cut heart border punch (bought on last week's shopping trip). I've used some BasicGrey flat backed pearls for the butterfly trails.

Popped in to town this morning to get material for the Dinky Diva's dancing costume and when I got back my new stamps had arrived, so no prizes for guessing what I'll be up to this evening.

Sunday, March 28

No Whiff of the Weekend this week as my new stamps haven't arrived, :(sniff, sniff. So the Sugar Bowl challenge #32 instead. The challenge was to choose any favorite sketch from previous weeks. I've gone for #19, which was from a week before I started to play along.

Saturday, March 27

The base box was a cross of card that came in some toy packaging at Christmas and I've hung on to it since then knowing it would be useful.

When I stamp out images I always make an extra one in case my colouring goes astray. The extra copies usually end up thrown out because they've been mangled at the bottom of my craft supplies. Not any more. Now they have their own little filing system where they can all sit and wait to be coloured and then used!

I've used the BoBunny Jasmyne papers and some purple Bazzill card.

The sign post is one of the new items I picked up on my Wednesday shopping spree. I plan to use that for lots of different messages. The cross of card didn't have anything to join the sides with and they weren't quite even so I decided to lace them for a purposely uneven look!

Entering quite a few challenges with this one, some of which I know have finished, but it took me a bit longer than I thought as I have spent too much time battling with my wonky computer when I should have been crafting!

Wednesday, March 24

Here are today's WOYWW photos. This was on my desk (bed) this morning.

My purple project which I had hoped to finish yesterday and now some of the challenges it was to cover are finished. In the top corner is a spare stamped image from one of my By The Cute and Girly challenges, due in before the end of the month.

By this afternoon this lot was on the top.

From my shopping trip today. A few bargains, new scissors and extra treats too.

Monday, March 22

Haven't mused on a Monday for a while so I thought I would share some pictures from last week.

We were off to look for signs of spring.

Grandma's summer house being usable, rather than like the Arctic, if definitely a sign of spring as is being out in the garden.

A few flowers were about.

No Daffodils though, they are still in very short supply.

This is the plant mum wanted me to photograph. It's a Japanese Anemone and it seems to have it's seasons all wrong.

It's gone to an amazing seed head in spring. Maybe it's Autumn in Japan now?

Didn't find any baby birds in here.

He did play a lovely cute game though where he kept lifting the lid and pretending to sprinkle food inside.

I have good news to report, my purple passions have been satiated in the shape of the new Jasmyne line from BoBunny. The papers are lovely rich purples with glittering. I'm already working on my 1st project with them. To eek them out and stop me having to order more within a fortnight, I also bought a small purple pad of K&Co Remake. Managed to find both sets of papers at Craft Obsessions.

Saturday, March 20

It's taking me an age just to navigate around a few sites and make a couple of comments. I've managed to put a picture on my sidebar offering a free Hotel Chocolat Easter egg, but it won't let me go and put my link back on the other blog. I am determined to be in with a chance of winning, grrrr. I must have chocolate!!One thing did cheer me up immensely today. I was reading some magazines SMO picked up for me this morning, in between pressing a button on the PC and waiting 10 minutes for nothing to happen, when I spotted one of my cards. It's in Cardmaking and Papercraft issue 77 on page 61. How chuffed am I?!?!?!

Friday, March 19

So sorry that I haven't been able to visit everyone who left a message on my WOYWW post. Those blogs I have been able to get into (the ones who's links go to their blog rather than their profile) I haven't always been able to leave a comment. I think the computer is improving, or may be that's just wishful thinking.

It's SMO who has abandoned his bike in the snow. The papers are Sassafras again and I've used Glimmer Mist on the background sprayed over a Glimmer Screen. The page was inspired by the Hambly screen print of yellow mini bicycles.

Working on a project for the weekend with a design of stamp I haven't used before, but which I definitely want to start adding to my every growing collection.

Tuesday, March 16

Not me, my computer! It's security system is worried, it sees everything as a potential threat. I have finally convinced it to let me into my own blog but it won't let me visit anyone else at the moment. It's had some updates and that always slows it down. I've found before that after a few days it gets used to the sites you regularly visit and releases its strangle hold on your viewing. Until then I shall just have to sit and swear at it, this deosn't help but it makes me feel better!Here's the card I was working on. I won't try an upload the other photos I mentioned yet, it might all be too much fuel for the PC paranoia.I'm entering this one (when I can get into the sites!) for :This week's Just Magnolia sketch.Creative Inspirations#51 - CharmsAnd Copic Creations - favorite techniques from the past 12 month's challenges. I think I've covered skin tones, purples/flowers and blending blacks.

I found it really hard to find some nice purple/lilac papers to use for this and ended up digging out an ancient K&Co pad. Definitely a gap in my supplies there. I thought may be some BasicGrey Wisteria would be good but what else is there about in purples?** Kate **

Monday, March 15

There was a bit of a snowdrop theme to my Mother's day. 1st of all this hand drawn card from Small-N-Grubby.

He made me crown that said 'best mummy' too. I had some smellies from the Dinky Diva and a new mug from Branston. Then my posy of flowers at church had a big daffodil.

With little snowdrops hidden underneath.

Today's been so warm and sunny. Visited my mum and spent some time in her garden. She asked me to bring my camera to take photos of a particular plant and snapping pics in the garden put me in a good mood, despite not being able to totally shake off this cough/cold.

Trying to update things on the PC isn't going so well today. Very slow and jamming up so I will try to upload some more pics tomorrow as well as the card I have been working on.

Saturday, March 13

I have searched my heart and found there is a dark side. Yep, this version is totally digi!!!!

I've used the same base kit from Katie Pertiet in the previous post with the addition of the hearts from Unconditional by Jen Wilson and the outer frame (is it called a 'brush'?) from Authentic Me by Lauren Reid.

All produced in Word again and I blame May Flaum, I never would have tried it if it wasn't for her.

I've been very distracted by the computer instead of getting on with jobs I'm supposed to be doing. I printed off this little page, just under 6x6 size.

Framed it with a piece of BasicGrey Porcelain paper, added Creative Imaginations rub-ons, Paperchase butterflies and a sugar coated brad. Wrote the details on and now I don't like it!

Serves me right for fiddling around when I should be busy elsewhere. I just can't resist playing around with digi supplies since I started learning about how to use them in word. The digi supplies for this page are from the Flowering Horizons pack by Katie Pertiet. I've got so much more to learn.

Must turn my back on the computer for now and get on with the cooking.

Thursday, March 11

Several years ago in Crafts Beautiful there was an article to make one of these. Ever since I've been collecting up the bits to make my own version and after several failed attempts I decided I would complete it this Mother's Day or give up.Sorry I didn't keep the details of which designer made it, but she must have had the patience of a saint. What with chopping up oasis and Branston Pickle running off with my Flower Soft, I thought there was going to be a very big mess. I'm quite pleased with the finished result, but I will probably never make one again. I have some mini pots left that I might put paper flowers in and I may incorporate beaded flowers on another project.

Yesterday's picture prompted lots of lovely comments. I think a messy Wednesday workspace is definitely more interesting, spying all the hidden treasures. The crisps belong to Small-N-Grubby but I did sneak a few. The cupboard at the back with the lattice doors has acrylic blocks, peg stamps and a few boxed stamp sets in.

The wooden letters are not destined for any exciting project. I use them for sponging or misting over. Like in the card I made to go with the flower pot.I've got 2 sets of the letters (they were only a couple of quid) one for messy projects and one clean set I use for drawing round and cutting out.

Feeling much better today and managed to get up the hill to school this morning without having to choose between breathing and speaking, although I still had to stop and catch my breath as we reached the top.

Wednesday, March 10

That's 'What's on Your Workspace Wednesday'! This is my stamping corner which unfortunately is not in the same room as the rest of my craft kit.Frequently used stuff goes in the cakes stand and never gets put away. Stamps are overflowing in all directions and also never get put away. Julia commented yesterday that I 'seem' to have a lot of stamps, but I say there's no such thing as too many. You might also spot a family sized bag of Red Sky crisps in there too!

Not feeling so good today. It was my 1st morning back on the school run and getting up that hill was heavy going, hopefully soon be back into the old routine and rid of the cough/cold.

Tuesday, March 9

I'm enjoying easel cards at the moment, making them in different shapes and sizes. So I couldn't resist the Penny Black Saturday Challenge for one.This is the smallest I've made - so far - at 4 inches square. It's a little ballet teacher's thank you card. The dancer is from the 12 days set which I think is such good value and not just for Christmas. Although, did I read that it was going to be discontinued? Might have got that wrong so don't quote me on it!!All the papers are K&Co Sparkly Sweet.Feeling a lot better today. Battled through yesterday as the children had a teacher training day and SMO was off too and we wanted to all go out together.

Lots of DT work to get completed and Mother's day cards so hope to be back on top form tomorrow. Lots of visitors to my blog at the moment which is absolutely great, thanks for stopping by.

Sunday, March 7

The crafting didn't go well and included green glimmer mist being sprayed down the front of the fridge! Here's one of the projects that I was struggling with.

She is practically the only thing usable that came out of a day's crafting, but I do like her. I bought the cards years ago, can't for the life of me think why, and have never used them.

I'm playing along with 2 photo inspiration challenges with this one. Caardvarks and BasicGrey #15. All the papers are BG and the cage stamp. I realised Tilda's feet were going to hang over the bottom of the card so I extended it with a strip punched using a Fiskars border.

Punched out all the flowers and made the little seagull from an old Hobbycraft stamp.

The butterfly is from an X-cut dimensions punch, I've just snipped it free from the paper and finished it with Papermania jewels.

Got up at lunchtime today, finished this card off and now I think I might go back to bed before I have to go out later. I suppose with all the children having been ill it was inevitable that it would end with me at some point!

Saturday, March 6

There's a new line out for DoCrafts licensed by the Victoria and Albert Museum. The first in the series is based on their quilt collection. I've used it for today's challenge card.

The colours are lovely. I bought the 6x6 size and the ditsy floral prints are just perfect for Tildas, Nellies and other similar cuties.

The Daring Card Makers and looking at Aquamarine this week as it's the birthstone for March. Their blog says that the stone comes in many shades of blue and green so hopefully one of the blue shades on my card will be similar, although I think I have gone a little dark.

The Tent card is for Just Magnolia challenge #45. There's a tutorial on the blog to make the card. It's made from pieces of 6x6 card so if you are a cardmaker who doesn't buy 12x12 cardstock this is a good way to join the pieces to make a 6 inch card.

I've water coloured Tilda to match the V&A papers. She's sitting on a floral stamped border from the V&A range that comes with the latest issue of DoCrafts Creativity! magazine.

Finally, Creative Inspirations challenge #50 has a theme of 'Lace, Pins and Pearls'. I've raided my jewellery kit to make the pin, the lace is from Fancy Pants and the black pearls are Papermania.

Yesterday's cowgirl party went well. We line danced, ate American grub, pinned the tail on the donkey and had a plastic bottle target range that we threw scrunched up paper at. I'm kicking myself though, we were so busy I completely forgot to take any pictures - why do I always do that?

Creative Moments blog party is underway and as I type there are already several interesting tutorials posted and more updates are due throughout the day.

Friday, March 5

Howdy par'ners, there's a bit of a cowboy (or should I say cowgirl) theme about today's blog post.

I've used this Sugar Nellie cowgirl - Giddy Up! - for Sugar Bowl #30 which is a combination of a sketch with the theme of shabby chic.

I've moved the circle in the sketch to the top to use my Alota lasso stamp. The papers are all Patchwork Pals and I've used DCWV white core cardstock to make the card. The lovely flowers are more goodies from the matchbox swap I took part in. I've used a shop bought white die-cut for the message and coloured it with the some of the copic pens I used for the image.

The reason I've gone all cowgirl is that's our theme for Rainbows tonight. I've got a really bad pink hen-night hat to wear and it's all down hill from there on in!

Don't forget it's the Creative Moments blog party tomorrow, so pop over there for projects and prizes. I'll be lurking on line most of the day whilst I craft so drop by and visit me and leave a comment so I can visit you.

I've chosen my copic colours to play along with Copic Colour Challenge #54, although they don't quite match exactly.

Thanks for all the lovely message yesterday about the DT post and well wishes for Small-N-Grubby. He went back to school today, although we nearly had the Dinky Diva home as she is now looking a bit limp and pale. She went off OK so fingers crossed that's the end of it.

Wednesday, March 3

BIG news to announce from yesterday. I will be joining the design team over at By The Cute And Girly. I am very excited about working with lots of new people and getting stuck into lots of projects (and a little bit nervous too!)

The theme for march is 'Spring is in the air' and I will be playing along with that one when I get the chance. My 1st official projects will be for April and theme will have to be secret until then! I'm lucky I know what the theme is, it's taken me 3 days to find the information when it's been sat in front of my face all along!

Not ideal but getting there, Rome wasn't built in a day and all that. Let's face it building Rome has to be a lot easier than getting your craft stuff tidied and under control.

The pile of pizza boxes contain my current projects. I can scribble on the side so I know which is which and if the finished projects needed posting the box is ready and waiting. If not, I just scribble the next project on there and start again. I never seem to run out of nice clean pizza boxes, where can they all be coming from?!?

The jar on the top has just arrived from my mum and promptly been filled with my expanding flower collection. That's the collection that is expanding, not the flowers, I need to invent them, they would look good on craft projects. Now I'll have to find a home for the jar too.

Small-N-Grubby off school ill today. So it looks like the Pickle didn't keep his germs to himself after all. They are both getting into mischief this afternoon, so I think that's back to school tomorrow.